San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-10-04
TUESDAY. OCTOBER, a, 1887.
GIVE TEXAS HER DUE.


Another of those crimes which make
the idea of hell endurable, as refuge
from the miscreants who commit them,
is reported from Dallas. Though this
crime was committed three hundred
miles away from San Antonio, the intel
ligent nOrtherner will make no discrim-
ination and write 1t down rs crime
committed in San Antonio or vicinity.
The immense area OF this state is not
considered when taking into account
the crimes committed here. 1t is capa-
BILE of demonstration that there is no
more crime committed to the square
acre in Texas, than in any other state Of
this Union. 1t is easily proved from
the criminal statistics that there is no
area of country so sparcely settled as
is this, where crime is so perSistently
ferreted out and punished. 1t can be
shown from the criminal annals of this
state, that, compared with those Of
Others, that there are not three states
Of this union more free from crime
considering its territorial extent,
and the branding this state
as hot bed Of crime
is not only senseless but 1t is a manifest
injustice. The immense reaches of this
empire state are not taken into cOnsid-
GRAFTON by those who, at the east and
north, accustomed to the circumscribed
boundaries OF the states of that section,
hastily conclude that state is a state,
and because more crime is committed
here than in Maine or Ohio or New Jer-
sey or Michigan or Pennsylvania or
Massachusetts, they wrongly conclude
that the crimes committed in Texas are
legion as compared to the crimes OF
other states. Nothing could be farther
from the truth. Take line from
Brownsville on the gulf coast of this
state and draw it through to the Pan
handle and you have a line that, CON-
menclDg at New York City, would
reach almost across the state of Illinois.
The railroad track from Galveston to Ell
Paso, is longer than the road from New
York to Detroit, and nOt.much shorter
than the road you travel to Chicago
from the city Of Gotham. The character
Of our population in Texas Is mixed and
it is by this mixed population that the
great majority Of the crimes are COM
mitted. The fact Is accepted by those
who have knowledge and experience of
criminal classes that the mixed races
generally develop the worst traits
OF both the original races
from which they sprung. Crime breeds
in the home and the original devil Of
lust burns his hottest fires In the breast
Of the mixed races. Texas 10 80 far from
Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadel-
phis, Washington and the so called CEN
tiers OF civilization that many people
imagine Texas as remote from ciyiliZa-
ton itself. There could not be q greater
mistake. There is no state south OF Ma
son and Dixon's line that can show
more advancement than has Texas since
1865. With q very imperfect and re-
strictive libel law upon her statute book
there Is no state In which the freedom OF
speech is more generally enjoyed. Her
efforts for education are commendable,
her facilities for school work are multi
piled every year and her progress in
this work Is distinctly marked. The
lawless element is very generally de-
creasing over all the state. Even in the
comparatively unsettled regions along
the Rio Grande, where the outlaw is
supposed to make his home, how little
violence. Some race troubles occasion
ally exist, but these grow fewer year by
year. Compare the criminal statistics Of
this county with those of any county OF
like extent in any state, and Bexar
county will not suffer by comparison.
San Antonio is as safe a city to 90 about
in as any city Of its size In the union.
Let sensible people remember these
things, and let the northern press in a
spirit of fairness consider them when
speaking of Texas. and we will soon
hear the last Of a "carnivsl OF crime" In
the Lone Star state.
On the 18th fresh oysters and fish
- IA hn- r